EP4464350A1 — Inhalation therapy device

USPTO Abstract

Inhalation therapy device comprising: a housing body (4), a reservoir (2) for holding a liquid in the housing body (4), a membrane (5) disposed in the housing body (4) and having a plurality of apertures (110), wherein the liquid is suppliable to a first side (5.1) of the membrane (5) by gravitational force; an actuator (6) coupled to the membrane (5) for vibrating the membrane (5), whereby the liquid passes through the apertures (110) and an aerosol is generated at a second side (5.2) of the membrane (5) opposite to the first side (5.1); a flow path (7) being defined in the housing body (4) and having a first opening (8) to the outside of the housing body (4) at one end and at least one second opening(-s) (9) to the outside of the housing body (4) at another end, so that a flow is generatable in a first flow direction (A) from the second opening(-s) (9) to the first opening (8) in the flow path (7) upon inhalation of a user at the first opening (8) for entraining and delivering the generated aerosol, and/or in a second flow direction (B) from the first opening (8) to the second opening(-s) (9) in the flow path (7) upon exhalation of a user at the first opening (8); a sensor (47) configured to detect a flow parameter of the flow in the flow path (7), a controller (18) configured to conclude based on the output of the sensor (47) at least on an inhalation phase and/or an exhalation phase of a user and to, during a single treatment time, repeatedly operate the actuator (6) during a period of the inhalation phase and not operate the actuator (6) during a period of the exhalation phase, wherein an aerosol output rate of the inhalation therapy device at the first opening (8) during the single treatment time is, when using a test solution of albuterol 0,1 % (M/V) concentration in 0,9 % sodium chloride as the liquid, at least 0.48 g/min, optionally at least 0.64 g/min and more optionally at least 0.8 g/min at a Median Mass Diameter of aerosol droplets between 4.5pm and 5.0µm, or at least 0.42 g/min, optionally at least 0.54 g/min and more optionally at least 0.70 g/min at a Median Mass Diameter of aerosol droplets between 4.0µm and 4.5pm, or at least 0.29 g/min, optionally at least 0.38 g/min and more optionally at least 0.51 g/min at a Median Mass Diameter of aerosol droplets between 3.5pm and 4.0µm, or at least 0.20 g/min, optionally at least 0.29 g/min and more optionally at least 0.38 g/min at a Median Mass Diameter of aerosol droplets between 3.0µm and 3.5pm, or at least 0.13 g/min, optionally at least 0.19 g/min and more optionally at least 0.26 g/min at a Median Mass Diameter of aerosol droplets between 2.5pm and 3.0µm.